Israel issues demolition orders to 52 Jerusalemites

Israel’s Jerusalem Municipality yesterday handed demolition orders to three Palestinian homes in the Ras Khamis neighbourhood of the Shuafat refugee camp on the pretext that they were built without planning permission.

Resident Suleiman Turk said he was surprised when Israeli occupation staff stormed the neighbourhood through a gate in the Separation Wall with demolition notices for homes that were built more than 20 years ago.

Turk said the staff came under heavy police protection.

He explained that the notices include his home where 17 people live. He said they will be left homeless after the demolition.

He added that the two other notices were delivered to Majid Abu Turk and Mazen Rajabi which would displace about 35 people.

The homeowners were given 14 days to empty their properties.

Turk pointed out that he and the other homeowners have submitted requests to licence their homes but had their applications refused.